| Triumphant British armored forces roll into Tunis with their vehicles festooned with garlands from the locally displaced French civilians receiving them with enthusiasm. Only 6 days later the German resistance in North Africa collapsed. Only about 700 Nazis, including Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel (November 5, 1891 – October 14, 1944), escaped the Allied vice. Rommel was recalled months earlier, to avoid the stain of the collapse on his impeccable record. Instead, his comrade Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen von Arnim (April 4, 1889 – September 1, 1962) offered the surrender of Panzer Armee Afrika. Associated Press war correspondent Daniel De Luce (June 8, 1911 – January 29, 2002) filed this nationally syndicated report from Tunis on May 7: “Hysterically happy inhabitants by the tens of thousands welcomed the Allied armies into Tunis late today even as British armored cars and tanks broke down German resistance in hot street fighting at the historic gateway to the Kasbah – native quarter.” “In more than two hours of skirmishing through narrow, crowded alleys, British advance guards rounded up approximately 1,500 bewildered German prisoners and a small number of Italians.” “Four hundred Tommies captured in the offensive last week and awaiting transportation to Italy were liberated from a prison yard inside Tunis.” “By one day, another 250 British a prisoners missed regaining their freedom. They were shipped from Tunis yesterday by the Germans.” “Tunis fell almost exactly forty-eight hours after the first barrage was fired in the new Allied offensive, which concentrated the armor of the First and Eighth Armies in Medjerda valley and broke through the enemy line more than twenty miles.” “Armored cars of the Eleventh Hussars, with the red Desert Rat insignia – first into Bengazi and the first into Tripoli – won for the Eighth Army the honor of being the first into Tunis. A patrol of the Eighth Army’s famous armored scouts arrived at a junction of two roads from Tebourba and Medjez-el-Bab four kilometers [2.5 miles] outside the city limits of Tunis just after 1600 Hours.” “Loser ‘by a head’ in the inter-army race was a detachment of armored scouts of the First Army’s Derbyshire Yeomanry.” “All the while scattered enemy guns lobbed shells into the suburbs from high wooded ground north of Le Bardo, adjoining the city.” “The Hussar troop, followed by a patrol of the First Rifle Brigade, advanced along the main highway into the city as amazed civilians rushed to the curb cheering and tried to pat the dusty vehicles with their hands.” “Heedless of danger although occasional bullets whined in the air and explosions from the enemy’s desperate attempts to demolish supply depots. spewed high flames from at least seven points in the area, French and native populations literally danced with joy at the sight of the first British soldiers.” “German snipers were increasing their fire from roadside buildings, so a rifle patrol returned to the crossroads and brought in armored cars to mop up.” “About 1640 Hours, the armored cars passed through the Kasbah gate. The gate is made of ancient stones. Light machine guns crackled from second story windows near an armored car in which Sergeant William Jordan [(1923 – ???)] of London [B2 Echelon, Eleventh Hussars – sent back to England after five years’ service November 14, 1944] was riding, filming the scene for the British Army from behind a turret. Two Germans in an automobile attacked the armored car by slipping up and throwing grenades. Jordan escaped injury and the Bren gunner in the car whipped his weapon around and killed both Nazis.” “Armored cars took positions in adjacent alleys and engaged the hidden enemy with small arms while the call went back to the crossroads for assistance of Sherman tanks.” “Two tanks rolled swiftly into action. Four rounds of seventy-five [millimeter] shells fired at a distance of fifty feet smashed a German post, and enemy soldiers began streaming from the building, their hands up.” “The fierce but short struggle was photographed practically from start to finish by [United States Army] Sergeant Worden F. Lovell [June 12, 1908 – January 1985)], of Malden, Massachusetts, American official war cameraman, who with his driver, Aloysius Unsen, were the only American soldiers inside Tunis at the time.” “Lovell took snots with his camera, and Unsen took shots at the same time — with a submachine gun.” “The enemy about the Kasbah entrance was cleaned out completely by 1700, but for two hours afterwards British advance guards drove above the central districts of the city blasting down sporadic German sniping.” “Entering Tunis in the near-dusk, at 1900 Hours, in a British staff car was a tumultuous experience for this correspondent who had covered three Allied defeats in Poland, Greece and Burma before coming to North Africa. For once, a city welcomed its conquerors with overwhelming affection.” “Farmer folk lined the country road waving Tricolors and Union Jacks they had retrieved from hiding places for the great occasion.” “‘Take Another Dozen.’” “Fires dotted the plain under a sky dark with rainclouds. At the main highway junction, hundreds of German prisoners milled around British trucks.” “‘Take another dozen, Harry.’ called a red-capped military policeman to a driver whose vehicle already was crowded with khaki and blue uniformed Nazis hugging small bedrolls.” “‘Give me a million of ‘em!’ the otherwise-unidentified Harry shouted back.” “Sleek steel monsters roared through to a green park for the night. Tankmen cooked supper in the open, surrounded by jubilant French admirers of all ages.” “All the way into town from there, newly-surrendered prisoners were seen marching-almost jauntily – toward the junction while civilians cheered wildly at passing staff cars.” “Some of the prisoners were under guard while others sauntered along unescorted. Two Italian officers carrying baggage gave me a doleful, inquiring glance.” “Outside the prison from which they had broken barely two hours before, hundreds of British soldiers cheered and sang.” “Huns Shoot Italians.” “There was pint-sized Rifleman Sam Cohen [(1910 – ????)], a former London tailor who was captured a week ago in the Medjerda Valley. Sam told me: ‘Our Blokes can’t believe it. We were sweating it out waiting to follow 250 blokes who were sent away to Italy yesterday, The first we knew that anything had happened was this afternoon when a German armored car went along the road and shot one of our Italian guards. Why, we don’t know, but maybe because the Germans were mad at the sight of Italians loafing around. Then we saw British armored cars go by — and we just busted loose.” “The tanks that rolled first through hilly vineyards into Tunis met little real resistance, although a few batteries of enemy eighty-eight millimeter [(3.46 inch)] guns fought to the end. The majority of enemy troops were withdrawing toward Cap Bon at the time.” “French cafe keepers threw open their wine stocks to celebrate the occasion. Soldiers grinned at the big show from their vehicles which were parked near roadside trees, but remained onlookers.” “Proceeding to the old Roman arch marking the border of the teeming Kasbah was a triumphant parade. There was a din of shouts from two walls of humanity that lined the route: ‘Vive la France!’ … ‘Vive de Gaulle!’ … ‘Vive les Anglais!’ … ‘Vive la Victoire!’” | |
| Image Filename | wwii2071.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.72 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 4078 x 4368 |
| Photographer | Nick Parrino |
| Photographer Title | Office of War Information |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | May 7, 1943 |
| Location | |
| City | Tunis |
| State or Province | Tunis |
| Country | Tunisia |
| Archive | Library of Congress |
| Record Number | LC-USW3- 029260-E |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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